Top Ten Unicorns, Version 6

This list will actually likely have the most significant changes to it even though there's only one new character to include on the list. Which is quite interesting considering the last time I did this list there was a certain character who'd been neglected for an entire season who then came back in spectacular fashion and couldn't be ignored. Anyway, you know the drill by now when it comes to these lists. Here's Version 7.2, from just after "The Best Gift Ever". Let's see who moved up, moved down, got added, and got knocked off (but before we do let's look at some honorable mentions, they are: Twilight Velvet, Night Light, Stygian, Sassy Saddles, Coriander Cumin, Saffron Masala, Skedaddle, Mistmane, Tempest Shadow a.k.a Fizzlepop Berrytwist, Chancellor Neighsay, Hoofar, Firelight, Stellar Flare, and Party Favor).

10. Moondancer
Why she returned: It wasn't much but boy was it nice to see Moondancer again and have her speak in "The Point of No Return". Seeing her apparently socializing was nice and her return was by far the highlight of an otherwise forgettable, predictable, and just downright lazy episode. I kind of wonder if the reason why Celestia was clearing out Twilight's old loft was because Moondancer was going to move into it?

9. Starswirl the Bearded
Why he returned: After Season 8 just turned him into an idiot and had him just be there in "Canterlot University" it was great to see him come back and be kind of the Obi-Wan for Season 9. He was the only one given an actual presence throughout, particularly "The Beginning of the End" when he helped fight back the Everfree Forest and made a very good point about how the pillars obviously had to contain the Everfree Forest until the Tree of Harmony could grow and do the same. It really is too bad they didn't try to at least have him make some kind of stand against Tirek, Starlight got to do it with Chrysalis and if there was anyone who could've been a match for Tirek at all it would be Starswirl (plus they could tie him to Scorpan).

8. Fancy Pants
Why he returned: Three for three on return appearances by characters that were once on the honorable mentions list. Even if I feel like his role could've gone to Prince Blueblood in "Between Dark and Dawn" (I think Twilight might have had better reasons not to trust him as opposed to Fancy Pants), I think Fancy Pants' role was fine for what it was. Again, he was really only a jerk after Twilight spurned his offer to help and insisted she could do it on her own. Even then he didn't really flaunt his "victory" in the mane six's face, it was kind of like Rarity in that he may get a bit of satisfaction in knowing he was right but he knows it's not important to rub in another's face. The only thing I can't defend is him insulting Rarity's choice of decor, he was willing to stand up for her when they first met in "Sweet and Elite" so he should be the last pony questioning such a thing.

7. Sunburst
Why he moved down: Oof, "A Trivial Pursuit" hit him hard, and "A Horse Shoe-In" didn't help matters by just pulling him into the story at the last minute. I won't deny that he's probably more qualified than the other applicants, but it isn't right to have him get the job because of neoptism after the episode claimed that Trixie getting it because of the same thing was bad. And even if you believe Sunburst was intentionally trying to teach Twilight a lesson in "A Trivial Pursuit" the fact of the matter is that he never conveyed that intent. If anything, that was the case, he should've called Twilight out after she got Pinkie Pie disqualified instead of concocting a scheme to try to get her disqualified too (because then he'd be without a teammate). Plus, Flurry Heart is going to be devastated by the fact that he won't be there to see her grow up. Yeah, maybe he wants to get away from babysitting duty, but Flurry has undeniably formed a bond with him and it isn't right for him to take that way to accept a position he'll have to stay in Ponyville for.

6. Rarity
Why she moved way down: Season 9 actually wasn't as bad for Rarity as Seasons 3 and 6 were (the former because it didn't give her a focus episode at all and couldn't make her personality fit every episode, and the latter because it kept trying to shoehorn her into every episode even if she didn't need to be in it on top of dragging her sibling bond with Sweetie Belle through the mud), but it really didn't do her any favors. Like with Rainbow Dash we got no more focus on her actual career or her boutiques, and we saw her do things that really undermined her character. "Dragon Dropped" was the worst offender because it made it seem like Rarity couldn't do anything without Spike there to help her, and that completely flies in the face of how she was able to function just fine without ever needing him on several occasions. It was interesting to see her magic come into play in "The Ending of the End", but it was so sudden and didn't get acknowledged. Was it a power boost or had Rarity been secretly working on her magic skills in her spare time? We don't know, and thus something that should seem so impressive feels more like an afterthought.

5. Sweetie Belle
Why she moved down: Poor Sweetie Belle, she didn't get a focus episode to herself this season. And the sad thing is, the writers thought of doing one with her that would've basically addressed her family situation. Long story short, Sweetie Belle was going to move in with Rarity full time when her parents came back, probably addressing why they'd been away for so long. My guess is that the idea was scrapped in favor of addressing Scootaloo's family situation, and while I wouldn't trade that for a vague concept I have to ask why we couldn't do both? With a little bit of tweaking we could have gotten that episode, maybe make it a Mother's Day episode where Sweetie wants to make it special since her mom is always away? It would've beaten her just doing nothing all season and not even really being a voice of reason anymore.

4. Shining Armor
Why he moved up: He only really got "Sparkle's Seven" but dang did he make the most of it! It seems his sister isn't the only one who gets crazy serious about stuff, his entire castle security system seems to have basically been "There's no kill like overkill". And I'm pretty sure he teleported to the throne room when Twilight was about to steal the sibling supreme crown. Even Silverquill was impressed when he reviewed "Sparkle's Seven" pointing out how it capped off a major transformation for Shining Armor that let him become more fleshed out (too bad the same couldn't be done for his wife). I only wish his security system wasn't so easily thwarted, and that he, Cadence, and Flurry Heart got to participate in the final battle against the Legion of Doom. The argument that Flurry was the last hope for Equestria doesn't make a whole lot sense, because if Twilight and her friends failed the Legion of Doom would have control of most of Equestria, and chances are they would know from watching Sombra about the Crystal Empire (to say nothing of how Chrysalis had managed to kidnap the royal family once before). They got to be a battle couple in "The Best Gift Ever" so why not in "The Ending of the End" when everyone else got to join the fray?

3. Sugar Belle
Why she moved way up: After just being there in Season 8, Sugar Belle finally got to be something other than just Big Mac's girlfriend in "The Big Mac Question". I really do like how she tried to do what he did for her, but do it better. And I like how she knew immediately where Big Mac was wrong in his thinking in regards to his parents' marriage. I'm kind of bummed we never got to see her interact with Cheerilee or even Marble Pie, just as a way of showing that there were no hard feelings. No word yet on what her and Big Mac's son (assuming the animators didn't screw up again) is called. But at least we finally got an answer as to how non unicorn ponies propose (instead of a ring they have necklaces).

2. Clear Sky
Why she's not on the top: Despite some name confusion due to the fact that we had a pegasus named Clear Skies, Clear Sky was voiced to fantastic perfection by Patton's second wife. She has such a cute nickname for him in the form of "Q", but at the same time she's a good mother to Wind Sprint by trying to help her adjust to the change in her life. She really sees the best in Quibble and wants Wind Sprint to be able to see the same. And I love the little bit of sass she added when Quibble admitted to what we all could tell. It never is easy when you're a single parent dating, especially when your child is still young and still adjusting to not having the other parent around anymore. There is one odd detail though, Rainbow Dash apparently mentioned Daring Do to Clear Sky while talking about Quibble Pants, and I think she let it slip that Daring Do is real. Clear Sky, as far as I can tell, didn't have any reaction at all to it. But maybe I'm just looking too deeply into it and that was only implied, not outright stated? In any case, Clear Sky ultimately being a one off character holds her back from the top.

1. Starlight Glimmer
Why she moved up to the top: What little screen time she got in Season 9, Starlight was fantastic. She really turned the corner and I think finally convinced a lot of people that her reformation was a good idea. She most definitely deserved her promotion to headmare, and it really looked like she hadn't aged a day when we saw in "The Last Problem". Her present being the book of memories was sweet, and I can see how her being headmare of the School of Friendship meant she couldn't commit to the "Once a moon" meeting of the Council of Friendship. It felt like, much like Korra in Season 4 of The Legend of Korra she emerged from all the rough patches she'd endured in seasons prior as a better character. Stronger because she went through and endured such adversity. Now if only the show didn't insist on maintaining her toxic friendship with Trixie. Plus, give her credit for being the only one who put any kind of real fight against her Legion of Doom opponent. She very nearly won the initial battle against Chrysalis. And for all those reasons I'm happy to put her in the top spot.

And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll update the rankings for the Top Ten Worst Villains.

Comments

[superfun]

My ranking:
1. Starlight Glimmer. 
2. Tempest Shadow. 
3. Sunburst. 
4. Trixie. 
5. Stellar Flare. 
6. Mean Rarity 
7. Firelight
8. Twilight
9. Clear Skies
10. Shining Armor

[Bronycommander]

Agreed. And nice that sweetie Belle can do Magic